Getting The Lead Out: McDonald's To Recall Bears Bobbleheads

McDonald's has "issued a voluntary recall of about" 100,000 Bears bobbleheads featuring LB Brian Urlacher and RB Anthony Thomas because some dolls have "excessive levels of lead paint," according to Elliott Harris of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Harris: "The Thomas bobblehead was a hot topic the last couple of days on WSCR-AM because of the pinkish lips that morning co-host Dan Bernstein said made it resemble a lawn jockey and might be viewed as racially insensitive." But McDonald's spokesperson Bill Whitman said the recall has "nothing to do with any other issue other than the fact we want to ensure the safety of our customers. We have pretty rigorous safety standards. From what we know, a number of these products were shipped prior to testing being completed." Harris writes McDonald's "is asking customers to keep the dolls away from children and return them for a refund." Whitman: "Our medical and safety experts assure us that normal handling of this product during the amount of time that it has been available to consumers does not pose a significant health risk. No one's been hurt. We've not had any reports of sickness, injury, illness. This is purely a precautionary measure" (SUN-TIMES, 9/18). ADAGE.com's Kate MacArthur notes the bobbleheads were sold for $5 in McDonald's in Chicago, Northwest IN, Central IL and Rockford August 19-September 12. The bobbleheads were manufactured by CA-based Bobble Dreams USA (ADAGE.com, 9/18).